Michelle Gervais
Partner
Duane Morris LLP
200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 3400
Miami, FL 33131-2318
USA
Phone: +1 305 960 2265
Fax: +1 305 397 1868
Email: MMGervais@duanemorris.com

Michelle Gervais practices in the areas of complex business, marital and family, Hague Convention, real estate and foreclosure litigation, insurance disputes, products liability, fiduciary obligations and corporate fraud. Ms. Gervais represents high-profile individuals and business entities in domestic disputes, toxic torts and in significant asbestos-related commercial litigation as well as major real estate developers and mortgage companies in both real estate litigation, including but not limited to alleged violations of the Interstate Land Sales Act, Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, purchase contract violations and foreclosures.

Ms. Gervais also represents high-profile clients in drafting and/or analyzing pre- and post-nuptial agreements and dissolution of marriage proceedings, including but not limited to actions involving paternity, custody, child support, alimony, domestic violence, modifications, international kidnapping and pre- and post-nuptial disputes.

In 2007, Ms. Gervais received the prestigious Domestic Violence Award for her pro bono work with victims of domestic violence from Put Something Back, the 11th Circuit for Miami-Dade County and the Miami-Dade County Bar Association.

Ms. Gervais has been continuously selected by her peers as a Rising Star in Business Litigation in Florida's Super Lawyers since 2009.

Ms. Gervais is a member of the Section of Litigation and the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association, a member of the Bar/Bench Committee and CLE Committee of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, 2003-2004 co-chair of the Family Court Steering Committee of the Dade County Bar Association, 2003-2004 recipient of Dade County Bar Association Certificate of Merit, 2000-2001, 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, Past Chair of the Family Court Steering Committee of the Dade County Bar Association, volunteer judge for Juvenile Offenders of the Miami-Dade County Teen Peer Court for Juvenile Justice, a member of the First Family Law Inn of the American Inns of Court, appointed Guardian Ad Litem for children involved in domestic violence and custody disputes, past member of the Board of Directors for the Children's Psychiatric Center, Inc. and past Vice President and President Elect of the Board of Directors for DFYIT (Drug Free Youth in Town).

Within Duane Morris, Michelle serves as the South Florida Office's Women’s Initiative Chair and also serves as the Miami Office’s Pro Bono Chair.

She is a 1999 cum laude graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, where she was on the Dean's List, received Book Awards and was President of the Moot Court Board in 1998-1999, and a cum laude graduate of Central Michigan University.

Admissions

• Florida
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Education

• University of Miami School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1999
• Central Michigan University, B.S. in Political Science and Broadcast and Cinematic Arts, cum laude, 1996

Experience

• Duane Morris LLP
  - Partner, 2009-present
  - Associate, 2003-2008
• Carlton Fields, P.A., Miami, Florida
  - Associate, 2000-2003
• Young, Berman , Karpf & Gonzalez, P.A., Miami, Florida
  - Associate, 1998-2000

Board Memberships

• Past Board Member of Children's Psychiatric Center, Inc.
• Past Vice President and President-Elect for DFYIT (Drug Free Youth in Town)

Civic and Charitable Activities

• Miami-Dade County Chamber of Commerce

Honors and Awards

• Listed as a "Future Star" for Florida by Benchmark Litigation, 2013
• Dade County Bar Recognition for Service Award, 2000-2001, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006
• Listed in Florida's Super Lawyer's Rising Stars, 2009, 2010 and 2011

Selected Publications

• Co-Author, "Overview of Legislation and Rules Relating to Family Violence," National Business Institute, 2002
• Co-Author, "Unequal Judicial Treatment of Employers and Employees," Dade County Bar Bulletin, 2000

Selected Speaking Engagements

• Guest, "'You are the Father!' - What Steps Can Athletes and Celebrities Take When Paternity is an Issue?" SportsLaw10 Podcast, March 2013
• Guest, "Athletes and Romance: Prenuptial Agreements," SportsLaw10 Podcast, February 2013
• Speaker, "Mortgage Fraud Rescue Schemes and Constructive Trusts: Ethics Issues and Litigation Strategies," National Banking Institution, December 2012